Surface Cleaning Device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a surface cleaning device, comprising a support body ( 1 ), connected to a cleaning sponge ( 2 ), whereby the support body ( 1 ) has at least one plunger-shaped projection ( 3 ) on the side thereof facing the cleaning sponge ( 2 ), which is arranged in a corresponding recess ( 4 ) in the cleaning sponge ( 2 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a surface cleaning device.

Surface cleaning devices are known in general, and they comprise, forexample, a carrier body, which is connected to a cleaning sponge. Thecleaning sponge consists, for example, of PU foam with constant firmnessand with a cuboid shape.

As a result of the constant firmness throughout the entire cleaningsponge, and the cuboid design, the contact pressure that needs to beapplied by the user to the surface cleaning device is of substantiallythe same magnitude over the entire area of the cleaning surface of thecleaning foam. To remove more resistant soiling on the surface to becleaned requires frequent back and forth wiping, and a strong increaseof the force applied by the user to the cleaning foam.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the problem of further developing a surfacecleaning device of the type mentioned in the introduction so that moreresistant soiling on parts of the surface to be cleaned can be removedmore rapidly and/or more easily with the application of less force bythe user.

This problem is solved according to the invention with thecharacteristics of claim 1. The dependent claims refer to advantageousdesigns.

To solve the problem, a surface cleaning device is provided, whichcomprises a carrier body that is connected to a cleaning sponge, where,on the side turned toward the cleaning sponge, the carrier body presentsat least a plunger-shaped projection, which is arranged in a congruentlyshaped recess of the cleaning sponge. Here, it is advantageous that theprojection that is turned toward the surface to be cleaned present asmaller separation from the surface to be cleaned than the adjoiningareas of the carrier body; in other words: the cleaning sponge presentsa height, between the surface to be cleaned and the projection, which issmaller than the height of the cleaning sponge in the areas that areadjacent to and abut the projection.

If the surface cleaning device according to the invention is to be usedto remove resistant soiling from the surface to be cleaned, this can beachieved in a comparatively simple way by the user having to apply, withonly slightly increased effort, pressure via the carrier body and thecleaning sponge to the surface to be cleaned. Because the height of thecleaning sponge between the surface to be cleaned and the front side ofthe projection that is turned toward the surface to be cleaned issmaller than the total height of the cleaning sponge, a slightlyincreased effort is sufficient to allow application in the area of theprojection of a specific higher contact pressure to the surface to becleaned, where this specific higher surface compression has the effectin the area of the projection that even resistant soiling can be removedwithout problem from the surface to be cleaned.

The ratio of the height of the recess to the height of the cleaningsponge is smaller than or equal to 1. It is preferred for the ratio tobe 0.3-0.95, and more advantageous for it to be 0.5-0.75. If the ratioof the height of the recess to the height of the cleaning sponge isclose to 1, this means that the remaining height of the cleaning spongebetween the cleaning surface of the cleaning sponge and the front sideof the projection is only very small. Although it is advantageous that,as a result, the force of the user can be applied almost directly andwithout loss to the surface area to be cleaned, the disadvantage bycomparison is that the cleaning sponge in the area of its only verysmall height is exposed to high mechanical stress, and as a result wearsrelatively rapidly, and, in the case of damage to the cleaning sponge inthe area in the area [sic] of the projection, there is a risk ofdamaging the surface to be cleaned.

If the ratio is equal to 1, then the cleaning sponge, on the side turnedtoward the surface to be cleaned, presents a cleaning towel, preferablymade of microfibers, where the projections can then act directly on thecleaning towel, if pressure is applied to the cleaning sponge.

For most application cases it has been shown to be advantageous if theratio of the height of the recess to the height of the cleaning spongeis 0.5-0.75. Such a design ensures a very good compromise between theincreased cleaning efficiency in the area of the projection, on the onehand, and the durability of the cleaning sponge in this area, on theother hand.

In an advantageous design, the cleaning sponge presents a plurality ofrecesses, where a projection is arranged in each of the recesses.

According to a first design, the recesses can be arranged in a regulardistribution over the upper surface of the cleaning sponge that isturned toward the carrier body. The surface of the surface cleaningdevice, which covers the projections, is relatively large, wherein theforce that is exerted onto the surface cleaning device is distributedover the plurality of the projections, and as a result, with respect toeach individual projection, with constant effort, only a comparativelysmall force can be exerted on the surface to be cleaned.

According to another design, it is possible to arrange the recesses inonly a partial area of the cleaning sponge, and for the partial area toform a power zone with increased cleaning effectiveness with respect tothe areas of the cleaning sponge that abut the partial area. Theadvantage here is that the force is applied by the user to the smallerpartial area, with respect to the total cleaning surface, and as aresult a specific higher force is applied effectively to the surface tobe cleaned. Even more resistant soiling can, as a result, be removedwith the same effort. In addition, such a design has the advantage that,in the areas that abut the partial area, the entire height of thecleaning sponge, and thus a large volume, is available as reservoir forthe cleaning fluid.

The cleaning sponge can be made of polyurethane (PU). Here, it isadvantageous for the cleaning sponge to present good durability even ifexposed to strong mechanical stress.

According to another design, it is possible for the cleaning sponge tobe made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Instead, it is also possible to makethe cleaning sponge of cellulose, for example.

Compared to cleaning sponges made of PU, both PVA and cellulose presentthe advantage that they can absorb larger quantities of cleaning fluidand store them, and the cleaning effectiveness is improved compared tocleaning sponges made of PU.

The cleaning sponges are made, for example, entirely of cellulose orentirely of polyurethane.

However, in case the design of the sponge uses only one material, thedisadvantage is particularly that, if the cleaning sponge is used inconnection with a mop with wings, a cleaning sponge made of cellulose,in the dry state, can be bent only with difficulty, or not at allwithout being destroyed, and that sponges made of polyurethane presentonly a comparatively low cleaning effectiveness and therefore are notparticularly well suited to absorb soiling.

To avoid the mentioned drawbacks, the cleaning sponge comprises at leasttwo partial cleaning sponges, each with a cleaning surface, where thepartial cleaning sponges, which are made of different materials, arearranged next to each other and connected to each other, and where thefirst partial cleaning sponge presents a greater flexibility than thesecond one, in each case in the dry state.

The advantage of such a design is that the cleaning sponge can beadapted well to the given circumstances of an application case, and canbe suitably used together with a mop with wings. The mop with wings canalso be operated well if the cleaning body is dry or largely dry,without the cleaning sponge being damaged or destroyed.

As a result of the cleaning sponge being individualized in terms ofoperational technology, the partial cleaning sponges are designed insuch a way that they are in each case suited particularly well forsolving given partial problems. The cleaning sponge, in the area of thefirst partial cleaning sponge, is particularly flexible, so that it canalso be used well in connection with a mop with wings, and the mop withwings can also be operated without problem in the dry state of thecleaning sponge without the cleaning sponge being damaged or destroyed.The material of the second partial cleaning sponge can be selected witha view to a particularly good cleaning effectiveness without having totake into account whether it is flexible or not in the dry state.

Using the first partial cleaning sponge in the dry state, an excellentfunctioning of the flap mechanism of a mop with wings is ensured even ifthe cleaning sponge is dry or only slightly moistened.

The first partial cleaning sponge is preferably made of polyurethane(PU). The advantage here is that the first partial cleaning sponge madeof polyurethane is always very flexible/foldable regardless of whetherit is dry or wet, and as a result it does not have a negative effect,even in the dry or largely dry state, on the functioning of a mop withwings, to which the cleaning sponge is attached in a detachable,preferably destruction free, manner. The durability of such a partialcleaning sponge is good because polyurethane presents a comparativelyhigh resistance against mechanical stress, even if an increased contactpressure is applied by the user to the first partial cleaning sponge.

The second partial cleaning sponge preferably consists, according to afirst advantageous design, of cellulose. Here, the advantage is that thesecond partial cleaning sponge presents good usage properties withregard to its cleaning effectiveness because cellulose absorbs soilingparticularly well. Although partial cleaning sponges made of cellulose,in the dry state, present only a very low flexibility, this does nothave a disadvantageous effect on the cleaning sponge according to theinvention and its use in a mop with wings because, for flexibility, thesubstantially more flexible first partial cleaning sponge is provided.

According to a second advantageous design, the second partial cleaningsponge is made of polyvinyl alcohol. In contrast to a second partialcleaning sponge made of cellulose, the second partial cleaning spongemade of PVA has the advantage that the pore size of the second partialcleaning sponge can be adapted very well to the given circumstances ofthe application case. In addition, the absorption of PVA is frequentlysomewhat higher than the water uptake of cellulose.

The partial cleaning sponge[s] are in each case designed as a singlepiece and of a single material. Such a design is of decisive importanceparticularly for the first partial cleaning sponge, because it ensuresthat each partial area of this first partial cleaning sponge presentsthe same advantageous flexibility; consequently it prevents drawbackswith regard to flexibility, which would result, for example, from usinga mixture of materials for the first partial cleaning sponge, because,for example, the latter would be constructed in layers from the surfaceto be cleaned in the direction toward the carrier body of the mop withwings.

In each case, the partial cleaning sponges can be designed to besubstantially cuboid, and they can be connected to each other in eachcase on their mutually facing front sides. As a result, the cleaningsponge is subdivided overall in functional zones, where each functionalzone corresponds to a partial cleaning sponge.

In a particularly advantageous design, a third partial cleaning spongeis arranged on the frontal side of the first partial cleaning sponge,which side is turned away from the second partial cleaning sponge, andthe third sponge is connected to the first partial cleaning sponge. Itis also advantageous for the second and the third partial cleaningsponges to be designed so that they agree in terms of shape and/ormaterial. The handling is simplified by the symmetry of the cleaningsponge with respect to the first cleaning sponge. For differentapplication cases, the second and the third cleaning sponges may agreein terms of their shape, yet present mutually different designs withregard to the material. The second partial cleaning sponge, as a result,could exhibit, for example, a more abrasive cleaning action than thethird sponge, while the third partial cleaning sponge could exhibit, forexample, a greater flexibility than the second partial cleaning sponge.As a result, the cleaning sponge is adapted to the given circumstancesof the application case. However, it is also possible to use the samematerial for the second and the third partial cleaning sponge, but adifferent design. For example, the second partial cleaning sponge couldbe rounded on the front side which is turned away from the first partialcleaning sponge, while the third partial cleaning sponge, on the otherhand, could present an angular design of the frontal side which isturned away from the first partial cleaning sponge.

Only the cleaning surface of the first partial cleaning sponge mayexhibit a microfiber wiping trimming on the side that is turned awayfrom the corresponding upper surface. The wiping trimming isadvantageous, especially if the first partial cleaning sponge is made ofPU, which exhibits a comparatively lower cleaning effectiveness withrespect to cellulose. To combine, on the other hand, the excellentflexibility of the PU material of the first partial cleaning spongewith, on the other hand, a good cleaning effectiveness, it isadvantageous to use the microfiber wiping trimming. The microfiberwiping trimming is in the shape of a towel, and it presents, withrespect to the thickness of the first partial cleaning sponge, anegligibly small thickness, so that the flexibility of the first partialcleaning sponge is not affected by the use of the microfiber wipingtrimming.

The wiping trimming can be made, for example, of a material that is nota microfiber. If a material with stronger abrasive action is required, awiping trimming can be used which is made in part of microfibers and inpart of viscose.

The carrier body comprises two flaps, which are connected to each otherin a manner which allows folding, by means of an articulation designedlike a hinge, where the articulation is arranged exclusively in the areaof the upper surface of the first partial cleaning sponge. A mop withwings that has such a cleaning sponge has the advantage that the foldingmechanism of the mop with wings also functions well if the cleaningsponge is dry or moistened only slightly. This is achieved by the factthat the first partial cleaning sponge of the mop with wings exhibits aflexibility, which is at least largely consistently satisfactoryregardless of whether the first partial cleaning sponge is dry, moist orwet.

Particularly in such a design, using the material PU for the firstpartial cleaning sponge is particularly advantageous because PU presentsa substantially higher elongation at break than cellulose, which resultsin an improved durability for the cleaning sponge even in case of highmechanical stressing by the nap.

The carrier body is made advantageously of a polymer material. It isadvantageous for such a carrier body to have a low weight and to beresistant against many cleaning fluids.

The projections can form a component that is formed as a single piecewith, and of the same material as, the carrier body. With regard to asimple and cost effective manufacture of the surface cleaning device,such a design is advantageous, because the entire carrier body includingits projections can be manufactured in a single workstep.

According to another design, the projections can be made of an elastomermaterial. Such projections can be connected by positive and/ornonpositive connection to a support plate of the carrier body.Projections made of an elastomer material have the advantage ofautomatic force limitation, so that, in spite of the advantages of theincreased cleaning effectiveness, and with a comparatively small effort,the risk of damaging the surface to be cleaned in case of excessiveeffort is minimized.

The above described force limitation can be achieved by designing theprojections so that they are elastically yielding in the axialdirection.

If the projections are made of an elastomer material, this elasticresilience is due to the elastomer material itself. If, on the otherhand, the projections are a component that is formed as a single piecewith, and of the same material as, the carrier body, then theprojections can be designed, for example, so that they are in the shapeof bellows in a partial area of their axial extent, and can absorbexcessively high forces, which are disadvantageously high for thesurface to be cleaned, by elastic deformation.

The carrier body and the cleaning sponge are advantageously connected toeach other in a detachable, destruction-free, manner. Here the advantageis that the carrier body and the cleaning sponge can each beindividually recycled. The cleaning sponge, which is subject to greaterwear than the carrier body, can also be replaced without problem by theabove-described embodiment. The connection between the carrier body andthe cleaning sponge can be a positive and/or nonpositive connection. Apossible fastening device consists of a velcro fastener, which attachesthe cleaning sponge to the carrier body.

On the side turned away from the cleaning sponge, the carrier body canpresent a handle. The surface cleaning device, as a result, is in theform of a mop or a broom, and it can be used by the user for effortlesscleaning of floors.

The handling of the surface cleaning device can be improved further ifthe carrier body and the handle are connected by linkage with anarticulation. The carrier body and the handle, as a result, can be movedwith respect to each other as in a universal joint, for example.

The cleaning sponge can be covered by a microfiber wiping trimming in atleast a partial area of the side that is turned away from the carrierbody.

Such a microfiber wiping trimming is advantageous to improve cleaningeffectiveness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Two embodiment examples of the surface cleaning device according to theinvention are explained in greater detail below with reference to FIGS.1 and 2 as well as 3 and 4.

The figures show, in a schematic representation:

FIG. 1 is a cross section C-D through the surface cleaning deviceaccording to FIG. 2,

FIG. 2 is a cross section A-B through the surface cleaning deviceaccording to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a cross section G-H through the surface cleaning deviceaccording to FIG. 4, and

FIG. 4 is a cross section E-F through the surface cleaning deviceaccording to FIG. 3.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment example of a surface cleaning device isshown. The surface cleaning device is suitable for cleaning floors,particularly floors presenting differently resistant soiling. Thesurface cleaning device according to the invention presents a carrierbody 1 made of a polymer material, which presents seven plunger-shapedprojections 3.1, 3.2, . . . 3.7 on the side which is turned toward thecleaning sponge 2 in the embodiment example shown here, whichprojections extend from the support plate 13 of the carrier body 1axially in the direction of the surface 14 to be cleaned. Theprojections 3.1, 3.2, . . . 3.7 are arranged in a corresponding numberof congruently shaped recesses 4.1, 4.2, . . . 4.7 of the cleaningsponge 2.

FIG. 1 shows a cross section through the surface cleaning deviceaccording to the invention along the line C-D of FIG. 2. The ratio ofthe height 5 of the recesses 4.1, 4.1, 4.3 to the height 6 of thecleaning sponge 2 is approximately 0.75 in the embodiment examplerepresented here.

The recesses 4.1, 4.2, . . . 4.7 are arranged only in the partial area 8of the cleaning sponge, where this partial area 8 is designed as aso-called power zone with increased cleaning effectiveness. With respectto the areas 9 of the cleaning sponge that abut the partial area 8, as aresult of an increased axial contact pressure of the surface cleaningdevice on the surface 14 to be cleaned in the partial area 8, a higherspecific contact pressure can be applied to the surface to be cleanedbecause—in the sense of a transmission ratio—a comparatively slightlyhigher force applied by the user onto the carrier body 1 results in aconsiderably greater specific contact pressure on the surface to becleaned in the partial area 8.

In the embodiment examples shown here, the recesses 4.1, 4.2, . . . 4.7are designed as dummy holes. The internal diameter of the recesses 4.1,4.2, . . . 4.7 is slightly larger than the external diameter of theprojections 3.1, 3.2, . . . 3.7. As a result, a good compressibility ofthe cleaning sponge between the front-side ends of the projections 3.1,3.2, . . . 3.7 and the surface 14 to be cleaned is guaranteed.

In the embodiment example shown here, the carrier body 1 is connected bymeans of a universal joint-like articulation 11 to the handle 10, and asa result can be used as a floor cleaning device.

In the partial area 8, in which the projections 3.1, 3.2, . . . 3.7 arearranged in the recesses 4.1, 4.2, . . . 4.7, the cleaning surface 15 ofthe cleaning sponge 2 is provided with a microfiber wiping trimming 12.

In FIG. 2, the cross section A-B from FIG. 1 is represented. The sevenprojections 3.1, 3.2, . . . 3.7 are shown in cross section inside therecesses 4.1, 4.2, . . . 4.7, where the partial area 8, which is coveredby the microfiber wiping trimming 12 in the embodiment example shownhere, is drawn with broken lines.

The embodiment example from FIGS. 3 and 4 differs from the embodimentexample from FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the cleaning sponge 2 presents threepartial cleaning sponges 16, 17, 23, which respectively present cleaningsurfaces 18, 19, 28, where the partial cleaning sponges 16, 17, 23consist of different materials, and are arranged next to each other andare connected to each other. The first partial cleaning sponge 16 ismade of PU, and it presents a greater flexibility than the second 17 andthe third partial cleaning sponge 23, each in the dry state. The secondand the third partial cleaning sponges 17, 23 are each made ofcellulose, and their structure agrees with regard to shape and material.

The first partial cleaning sponge 16 presents the above-mentionedpartial area 8, where only the cleaning surface 18 of the first partialcleaning sponge 16 presents a microfiber wiping trimming 12 on the sideturned away from the upper surface 7. The surface cleaning device fromFIGS. 3 and 4 is designed as a mop with wings, where the carrier body 1presents two flaps 24, 25, which are connected to each other in such amanner that they can be folded with an articulation 26 designed like ahinge. The articulation 26 is arranged exclusively in the area of theupper surface 27 of the first partial cleaning sponge 16.

The design according to the invention of the cleaning sponge can be usednot only for support bodies that can be folded about an axis traverse tothe longitudinal axis of the carrier body (as represented here). Supportbodies that present an articulation that extends parallel to thelongitudinal axis or that corresponds to the longitudinal axis can alsobe provided with a cleaning sponge; the two partial cleaningsponges/three partial cleaning sponges then extend, for example,parallel to the longitudinal axis of the carrier body.

1. Surface cleaning device comprising a carrier body, which is connectedto a cleaning sponge, where the carrier body presents at least oneplunger-shaped projection on the side turned toward the cleaning sponge,which projection is arranged in a congruently shaped recess of thecleaning sponge, where the cleaning sponge comprises at least twopartial cleaning sponges, each with a cleaning surface, where thepartial cleaning sponges, which are made of different materials, arearranged next to each other and connected to each other, where the firstpartial cleaning sponge presents a greater flexibility than the secondone, each in the dry state.
 2. Surface cleaning device according toclaim 1, wherein the ratio of the height of the recess to the height ofthe cleaning sponge is less than or equal to
 1. 3. Surface cleaningdevice according to claim 2, wherein the ratio is 0.3-0.95.
 4. Surfacecleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the ratio is 0.5-0.75. 5.Surface cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaningsponge presents a plurality of recesses, where a projection is arrangedin each one of the recesses.
 6. Surface cleaning device according toclaim 5, wherein the recesses are arranged with regular distributionover the upper surface of the cleaning sponge, which is turned towardthe carrier body.
 7. Surface cleaning device according to claim 5,wherein the recesses are arranged only in a partial area of the cleaningsponge, and in that the partial area forms a power zone with increasedcleaning effectiveness with respect to the areas of the cleaning spongethat border the partial area.
 8. Surface cleaning device according toclaim 1, wherein the cleaning sponge is made of polyurethane.
 9. Surfacecleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning sponge ismade of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).
 10. Surface cleaning device accordingto claim 7, wherein the partial area is a component of the first partialcleaning sponge.
 11. Surface cleaning device according to claim 1,wherein only the first partial cleaning sponge is made of polyurethane(PU).
 12. Surface cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein thesecond partial cleaning sponge is made of cellulose.
 13. Surfacecleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the partial cleaningsponges are each constructed as a single piece and of the same material.14. Surface cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the partialcleaning sponges each present a substantially cuboid design, and theyare connected to each other by their, in each case mutually facing,front sides.
 15. Surface cleaning device according to claim 1, whereinon the front side of the first partial cleaning sponge, which is turnedaway from the second partial cleaning sponge, a third partial cleaningsponge is arranged and is connected to the first partial cleaningsponge.
 16. Surface cleaning device according to claim 15, wherein thesecond and the third partial cleaning sponge are designed so they agreewith regard to shape and/or material.
 17. Surface cleaning deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein only the cleaning surface of the firstpartial cleaning sponge presents a microfiber wiping trimming on theside turned away from the upper surface.
 18. Surface cleaning deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the carrier body presents at least twoflaps, which are connected to each other in such a way that they can befolded by an articulation designed like a hinge, where the articulationis arranged exclusively in the area of the surface of the first partialcleaning sponge.
 19. Surface cleaning device according to claim 1,wherein the carrier body is made of a polymer material.
 20. Surfacecleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the projections form acomponent of the carrier body, which component forms a single piece withthe carrier body and is made of the same material.
 21. Surface cleaningdevice according to claim 1, wherein the projections are made of anelastomer material.
 22. Surface cleaning device according to claim 1,wherein the projections are designed so that they are elasticallyresilient in the axial direction.
 23. Surface cleaning device accordingto claim 1, wherein the carrier body and the cleaning sponge areconnected to each other in a detachable and destruction-free manner. 24.Surface cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the carrier bodypresents a handle on the side turned away from the cleaning sponge. 25.Surface cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the carrier bodyand the handle are connected to each other by linkage with anarticulation.
 26. (canceled)